Investigation begins in Oyster Fest accident

Ken Dixon and Frank Juliano

Updated 8:32 am, Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Attendees on the Zumur swing ride at the Norwalk Seaport Association's 37th annual oyster festival in Norwalk, Conn. on Saturday, September 7, 2013. 18 people were injured Sunday when the ride malfunctioned and the Zumur ride's cars slammed into each other when the swing-style ride abruptly stopped.
Photo: Lindsay Perry

Attendees on the Zumar Swing ride at the Norwalk Seaport Association's 37th annual Oyster Festival in Norwalk, Conn., on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013. Eighteen people were injured Sunday when the ride malfunctioned and the Zumar ride's cars slammed into each other when the swing-style ride abruptly stopped.
Photo: Lindsay Perry

The Zumur swing ride in a photo on the Stewart Amusement Co. website. 18 people were injured when the ride malfunctioned and the Zumur ride's cars slammed into each other when the swing-style ride abruptly stopped at the Norwalk Oyster Festival in Norwalk, Conn. on Sunday, September 8, 2013..
Photo: Contributed Photo

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Notable area amusement park accidentsAug. 3, 2005: A 7-year-old Norwalk boy, Jon-Kely Cassara, was killed on the Ye Old Mill ride at Playland in Rye, N.Y., when he got out of the boat soon after the indoor ride started.May 4, 2004: A Shelton mother and her son were injured when their car on the Saturn VI ride at Quassy Amsuement Park in Middlebury suddenly fell to the ground.May 22, 2004: A 7-year-old girl was killed when she apparently knelt on her seat on the Mind Scrambler ride at Playland and fell to the ground.May 2004: A Connecticut man fell to his death from a roller coaster at Six Flags New England in Agawam, Mass. State officials said he was not properly secured into his seat by a park attendant and the man was too big to have been safely restrained on the Superman Ride of Steel roller coaster; he should have been kept off the ride.May 2004: A 3-year-old boy fell from the "Yo-Yo" swing ride at the Coleman Brothers carnival in Manchester, landing on pavement and sustaining minor injuries, authorities said.Aug. 20, 1999: A 16-year-old ride attendant died from injuries he suffered at Lake Compounce in Bristol. The attendant stepped onto the park's Scrambler, a spinning ride, before it had come to a complete stop, officials said. His legs got caught underneath the ride and he was dragged until the operator activated the emergency stop.

Safety tips for amusement park ridesChoose an age-appropriate ride for the child, and watch it operate before boarding.Obey all minimum and maximum height, weight and age limits.Use all provided safety equipment and follow all instructions from ride operators.Watch all extremities, including feet on open-sided rides.Never abdicate your parental responsibility or judgment to any business or ride operator.Information from www.SaferParks.org

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NORWALK -- As the last of the 18 people injured in the Norwalk Oyster Festival's thrill-ride malfunction was released from the hospital Monday afternoon, a Kansas-based amusement park manufacturer pledged to help find the cause.

No criminal charges will be filed in connection with the incident.

"We're confident that it truly was an accident," Lt. J. Paul Vance, the State Police spokesman, said Monday afternoon. "It was a mechanical failure."

An 8-year-old boy who had sustained non-life threatening injuries from the swing-ride mishap was discharged from Norwalk Hospital Monday afternoon, a few hours after he had been listed in stable condition, according to Norwalk Police Lt. Paul Resnick.

The 12 other patients -- 11 children and one adult -- who were transported to area hospitals were treated and released Sunday. Five others declined treatment.

Police did not release the names of the victims, but onlookers described a terrifying scene.

David Barker, a building contractor from Stamford, said his 4-year-old son had been on a nearby ride when the accident happened about 2:15 p.m. He said he heard a strange noise about 30 seconds before the swing ride came to an abrupt halt.

"I felt it in my heart that something went wrong," he said Monday. "I've never seen a large, heavy thing stop so suddenly."

Other rides in the area slowly came to a stop over the next few minutes. Barker grabbed his son and led him away from the rides, trying to shield his son's eyes as emergency workers and parents converged on the injured children at the ride.

"I can imagine it's a horrible feeling," he said. "This is supposed to be a great time of your life here, and it turns out to be something different."

State investigators said the injuries occurred as the cars of the ride, called the Zumur, slammed into each other when the swing-style ride abruptly stopped.

"No one fell, and the ride never lost power," said Richard B. Stewart, of Trumbull, owner of the Stewart Amusement Co. Inc. "There was a malfunction in the drive assembly and we have contacted the manufacturer to see if they want to participate in the investigation."

Jeff Roth, vice president of administration for the Wichita, Kan.-based Chance Rides, said Monday the company was in the process of finding an expert to send to help in the investigation. But, he said, the actual manufacturer of the Zumur went out of business in 1985. Chance is the corporate successor to the original manufacturer, Roth said.

The Zumur was designed around 1975 and its manufacture ceased in 1985, Roth said. The model that malfunctioned was built in 1983, the year that the Stewart Amusement Co. was founded.

"We are aware that there are still some Zumurs out there," Roth said. "As an industry player we are always concerned about theme-park and carnival-ride incidents. It was a well-built, sturdy, popular ride. Something caused this."

An industry official described Stewart as a responsible professional with decades in the business.

Robert Johnson, president of the Winter Park, Fla.-based Outdoor Amusement Business Association, said Monday he knows Stewart personally.

"They are responsible carnival folks," Johnson said. "It's a family business and I can tell you the owner is obviously concerned. Things like this just don't happen. It's rare that something like this happens. I've been here for 18 years and I have not heard of any serious incidents involving them. They are good people, a good family and responsible operators."

The nonprofit Norwalk Seaport Association, which supports the Sheffield Island Lighthouse and science education classes, runs the annual oyster festival as its major fundraising event. It's always held the first weekend after Labor Day in Veterans Park, across the Norwalk River from downtown South Norwalk, and attracts upwards of 100,000 from throughout the region over the weekend.

This year was the 36th annual edition of the event, featuring food provided by more than 20 local nonprofits and churches, oyster-shucking contests and continuous musical entertainment.

"Our first and only concern is for the well-being of those involved and their families," Carolyn Ripp, spokeswoman for the association.

Av Harris, spokesman for Secretary of the State Denise Merrill, said Monday morning that Stewart Amusements failed to file its annual report, with the accompanying $150 fee, which was due in March. It was the first time since its initial filing in March 1983, that the company failed to file its annual report in February, March or April.

Later on Monday, Harris said that Stewart Amusements finally filed its annual report about 3:30 p.m., after Hearst Connecticut Newspapers reported the missed deadline.

The company had filed an affidavit of financial responsibility and a carnival application in March, and received a license last week for its rides at the Oyster Festival.